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Viinin Kuvailu
The Story
The story
This fabled Ruffino wine has been one of our most prized since it was first released in 1927. Riserva Ducale is crafted using modern winemaking techniques to enhance traditional Italian methods, and is widely acknowledged as a benchmark for Chianti Classico Riserva.
Why this name? Ducale means ‘duke’ in Italian. Riserva Ducale honors the Duke of Aosta who braved a journey over the Alps to taste the Ruffino wines that he had heard so much about. He was so impressed by the wine that in 1890 he appointed Ruffino as the official supplier to the Italian royal family. This honor is not only reflected in the wine’s name, but is depicted on its iconic label, one of the most recognized in the world of Italian wine.
Food pairing suggestions
Enjoy this timeless Tuscan gem with Italian favorites such as prosciutto and other antipasti, mushroom risotto, pasta Bolognese, and chicken cacciatore. Or, pair it with simple grilled meats and roasted vegetables for a classic Tuscan meal.
Winemaker's notes
We start with a careful selection of the best grapes from the traditional Chianti Classico production region in Tuscany, including fruit from our own Santedame, Gretole and Montemasso estates. The blend is 80% Sangiovese—the most predominant and most famous red grape variety of Chianti—along with 20% Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine undergoes secondary malolactic fermentation to enhance its velvety texture, then ages for 24 months in oak, stainless steel and concrete vats. Riserva Ducale spends an additional three months in bottle before release.
Vuosikerta 1996
Italy Vintage Report by Tb: 1996 was an excellent continuation of the preceding year. Temperatures exceeding 30°C at the beginning of June accelerated and balanced the start of the blooming period. The summer growing season enjoyed ideal conditions, in which the grapes were allowed to ripen slowly and evenly. The autumn rains did not present any mould problems due to the cool temperatures. Nebbiolo grapes were thick-skinned, very concentrated and ripe. The 1996 Barolos and Barbarescos are abundantly fruity, supple and robust wines, whose quality is on a par with the 1990 vintage. In Tuscany Chianti and Montalcino enjoyed extraordinary success. Montepulciano did not do quite as well, but producers in Tuscany considered 1996 to be nearly every bit as good as it was in 1995. Starting with this vintage Angelo Gaja classified his legendary single-vineyard Barbarescos and Barolos as IGTs. Gaja said that the reason for doing this was his desire to differentiate his previous modern single-vintage wines from his family’s pride, the traditional Barbaresco, whose importance he wanted to emphasise as his only DOCG wine. The venerable Chianti producer, Castello di Ama decided that from 1996 on it would focus on the production of Chianti Classico, placing less emphasis on its single-vineyard wines, the Bellavista and La Casuccia.
The wines are still maturing very nicely, even if the Chiantis should, in my opinion, be enjoyed soon due to their sheer deliciousness.